Tag: Racing

Fresh off a historic 2021 West Virginia Breeders Classics night, the duo of Jeff Runco and Arnaldo Bocachica will team up once again with defending champion Muad'dib in the night's signature event, the $300,000 Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders Classic. The West Virginia Breeders Classics XXXVI card features ten West Virginia-bred stakes races worth a total of $1 million in purses, and will also have a mandatory distribution of the Charles Town 6-12 jackpot carryover that currently sits at $84,745.

Muad'dib's win in the 2021 Classic was one of seven on the night for trainer Jeff Runco, and one of eight for jockey Arnaldo Bocachica, both records for wins on a single card at Charles Town.

“It really was an incredible night. It took a lot of great trips, great rides, and the horses to be at the top of their games that night,” said Runco of his record-setting 2021 Breeders Classics night. “Obviously it will be tough to top but we're certainly going to try.”

Runco will have plenty of chances at Breeders Classics success again in 2022, with 17 entrants in the 9 Breeders Classics races (the 10th race is a non-WVBC state-bred stakes race), the most of any trainer on the night.

But when the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders Classic rolls around, all eyes will be on his West Virginia-bred Champion Muad'dib. Owned by David Raim and bred by John McKee, Muad'dib comes into the Classic off of the first defeat of his career, though he was hardly disgraced while finishing second to now two-time Charles Town Classic (G2) champion Art Collector in Charles Town's signature $1 million race in August. Muad'dib will now attempt to become just the fifth horse to record back-to-back wins in the richest race for West Virginia-breds. And despite suffering his first career defeat last out, Runco says he found out a lot about his charge that night.

“He showed that he's a really good horse. He's got a ton of heart, he does what he has to do every time, and he can do just about anything. He can go to the lead, he can come from out of it, he's just a special, special horse. But he's going to have to bring his A-game on Saturday. Candy Invasion is a nice horse. [Jockey Arnaldo Bocachica] is going to ride his race, but he'll be aware of where he (Candy Invasion) is and when he makes his move.”

The aforementioned Candy Invasion – a homebred for trainer John Casey — will attempt to play the role of spoiler. He enters the Classic off of the best race of his career, an 8 ½ length win in an open West Virginia-bred allowance event. Following a 4th place effort in last year's Classic as a 3-year-old, the now 4-year-old gelded son of Normandy Invasion has developed into a route specialist, and will relish the nine furlong distance of the Classic.

The $300,000 Classic will bear the name of the late co-founder of the West Virginia Breeders Classics and NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff for the first time.

The night's co-featured race, the $125,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders Classic, drew a field of seven fillies and mares, and is led by last year's Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic winner The Sky Is Falling for the same connections as Muad'dib: Raim, Runco, and Bocachica. The 3-year-old daughter of Cupid enters the Cavada on a four-race winning streak, and took down older foes when taking the local prep for the Cavada, the $75,000 Sadie Hawkins Stakes on Charles Town Classic night.

The Charles Town 6-12 carryover currently stands at $84,745 with two cards remaining prior to its distribution. The Charles Town 6-12 is a jackpot style Pick 6 covering the final six races on each Charles Town card and carries a low 12-percent takeout.

The first race on Saturday's West Virginia Breeders' Classics program is slated for 7:00 P.M EST, with the featured Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders Classic going off as Race 8 and carrying a tentative post time of 10:30 P.M.

West Virginia Breeders Classics festivities kick off on Friday, October 7th with the Sam Huff Golf Classic, featuring honorary Chairman Mike Nelms, a two-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler, followed by the Breeders Classics Gala that night. In addition to live country and western music on the track apron, Classics night will feature a new addition for fans and racegoers, as Jefferson Security Bank will be sponsoring the first ever West Virginia Breeders Classics Hat Contest, which will have $3,000 total in cash prizes covering two categories: Most Original and Best Racing Theme.

$300,000 SAM HUFF WEST VIRGINIA BREEDERS CLASSIC

OCTOBER 8, 2022

Race 8 – Post time 10:30pm EST

3&up, 1 1/8 Miles

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Ishihara, Christian Hiraldo, 123, Jeff C. Runco

2. Hero's Man, Gustavo Larrosa, 123, James W. Casey

3. Allen Can Do It, Gerald Almodovar, 123, John A. Casey

4. Martin Man, Victor Rodriguez, 123, Wade S. Sanderson

5. Candy Invasion, Jose Montano, 123, John A. Casey

6. Muad'dib, Arnaldo Bocachica, 123, Jeff C. Runco

7. Buff's Eye View, Fredy Peltroche, 123, David Walters

9. Out of Cents, Marshall Mendez, 123, Jeff C. Runco

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Nine fillies and mares, including Queen's Plate winner Moira, will vie for top prize in the Grade 1 $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, up from $600,000 last year, part of a stellar stakes-filled Saturday card of racing at Woodbine.

The E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies & mares, 3-year-olds and upward, is complemented by the Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic, a 6-furlong grass engagement for 3-year-olds and upward, and the Grade 3 $150,000 Durham Cup, a 1 1/16-mile main track test for 3-year-olds and upward.

Woodbine's Inner Turf Course will also be highlighted on the 11-race card with the running of the $150,000 Woodbine Cares Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, and the $150,000 Ontario Racing Stakes, for 2-year-olds. Both will be run at 5 furlongs.

Trained by Kevin Attard for X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC, Moira, a bay daughter of Ghostzapper-Devine Aida, will be testing out the turf for the first time.

She'll also be chasing history as no filly has ever turned the Plate-Taylor double to date.

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Moira romped to victory in the 163rd running of the Plate on August 21, a seven-length tour de force that came three weeks after a 10 ¾-length, head-turning performance in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser.

With the win, Moira became the eighth filly to notch the Oaks-Plate double, joining such greats as Dance Smartly, Flaming Page, Holy Helena, Inglorious, and Lexie Lou.

Moira, who has won all three of her 2022 engagements, is now 4-1-0 from five career starts.

The decision to run her in the E.P. Taylor was made after several discussions between her connections.

“Obviously, it's a big step up and on a surface she's never run on before, but she's always responded to every challenge,” said Attard. “We were very happy with her work on the course and after we talked about our options, we made the decision to run here.”

In a pair of 2-year-old starts she won the Princess Elizabeth and was second in the Grade 3 Mazarine, earning a Sovereign nomination for champion 2-year-old filly.

Moira's been even more impressive in her sophomore campaign.

“She's had a great year and hopefully that continues,” said Attard. “We're very lucky to have such a talented horse.”

X-Men Racing is a syndicate of racing friends put together by high-profile bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. The group is comprised of Lanni, Robert LeBlanc, Steve Heimbecker, Clay Horner, David Anderson, John Fielding, Alexandra Verret, Daniel Plouffe, Gabriel Dimiele, and American Nick Pelligreen.

Lanni took to Twitter shortly after it was announced Moira would be running in the E.P. Taylor: “Looking forward to Saturday! Thank you for all the love and support!”

Attard, who sent out Moira to work 5 panels on the E.P. Taylor, in 1:01.20, breezing, on October 1, echoed the same sentiment.

“The support we've received from our fans here at Woodbine has been amazing,” said the winner of 639 career races, who will also send out 4-year-old Munnyfor Ro in the E.P. Taylor. “We really appreciate it and hope everyone will come out and cheer Moira on.”

Standing in Moira's way is a salty group of turf talents, including fellow 3-year-old filly Mylady (GER).

Bred and owned by Gestut Karlshof, the daughter of The Grey Gatsby (IRE)-Minoris (FR) heads into her first start outside of Germany off a third-place finish, just three-quarters of a length behind the winner, highly regarded Toskana Belle, in the Group 1 German Oaks on August 7.

Trained by Markus Klug, Mylady (GER) sports a record of 3-1-1 from seven starts.

“I think she is the best horse I have ever sent over here,” said owner Holger Faust (Gestut Karlshof), part of German-based connections who have raced starters at Woodbine in the past, including 2019 Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International runner-up Alounak. “The thing about her is that she runs all the classic races in Germany, and unfortunately, we found out in the German Derby that she does not stay the distance, the 12 furlongs.

“In the German Oaks, we tried her out at 2,200 metres, and she came, she was there, but in the last furlong she struggled and was just following the first two horses. So, after that, we had the impression that maybe the 10 furlongs suits her best because her three wins have all been in that range. Now, we feel we have found the perfect distance for her.”

Mylady (GER) was an efficient debut winner last August, besting six rivals in a 7 ½-furlong race at Mulheim. It was the start of three straight victories.

Faust, also the manager of Darius Racing, believes the grey will appreciate the long turf stretch at Woodbine.

“She's a very honest filly and a very easy to handle filly because she's run on many different courses, left-hand, right-hand, and they all suited her. She's run every type of ground. The only time when she was disappointing was in the [Group 2] 2000 German Guineas against the colts and that was because she had an infection. All the other races, she finished well, and she did run at her best.

“I don't worry about the course at all. She travelled well and the groom said she was drinking well and very quiet on the flight. She and the groom, they really like the stables at Woodbine. Mylady (GER) is eating well and doing well. So far, knock on wood, everything is fine ahead of the race. I'm excited. Very, very excited because she is my filly, owned by my family. We have raced at Woodbine before and tried many times to get something, and I think if she runs at her best, we have a chance to make it happen on Saturday.”

Well-travelled Fev Rover (IRE) will make her third straight start at the Toronto oval.

Trained by Mark Casse, the 4-year-old daughter of Gutaifan (IRE)-Laurelita (IRE) heads into Saturday's engagement off a gutsy nose win in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on August 21.

One race earlier, the bay, owned by Tracy Farmer, was second to Wakanaka (IRE) in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly.

Fev Rover (IRE) is 3-4-1 from 13 starts.

Other notables include Chad Brown trainees Lemista (IRE) and Rougir (FR), as well as graded stakes winner Adventuring, and Flirting Bridge (IRE), conditioned by Brendan Walsh.

The E.P. Taylor is the final event in Woodbine's lucrative Ladies of the Lawn Series.

Launched in 2019, Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn is a points-based bonus series that includes three premier turf races for fillies and mares. The owner of the horse who has accumulated the most points upon the conclusion of the three races will receive a $50,000 bonus, while the owner whose horse has accumulated the second and third most points will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 bonus, respectively.

The Ladies of the Lawn began on July 24 with the Dance Smartly Stakes, won by Wakanaka (IRE), followed by the Canadian Stakes on August 21, with Fev Rover (IRE) taking top prize. The inaugural winner of the 2019 Ladies of the Lawn Series was Starship Jubilee, Canada's 2019 Horse of the Year, who took that year's edition of the E.P. Taylor.

Fev Rover (IRE), 17 points, Wakanaka (IRE), 10 points, Crystal Cliffs (FR), 7, round out the top three in this year's standings.

The Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic has attracted nine hopefuls, including multiple graded stakes winner Bound for Nowhere.

Nine starters, including Mark Casse trio Frosted Over, Like the King, and Who's the Star, will contest the Grade 3 $150,000 Durham Cup.

Darwin Banach will send out Bushido, a chestnut son of First Samurai-Burma Road, in the Ontario Racing Stakes.

Bred in Kentucky by Lantern Hill Farm LLC, and owned by Suzi Shoemaker, the ridgling enjoyed a banner debut on September 4.

Under Antonio Gallardo, who will be in the irons again on Saturday, Bushido drew off under mild urging to post a 5 ¼-length score over 5 panels on the Inner Turf, crossing the wire in :57.71.

“He's fast,” quipped Banach. “He's just done pretty much everything we've asked of him from the very start. He's never had a setback and he's very, very fast from the gate. Hopefully, he can continue that pattern. He's just so fast from the gate, which we saw in that first race. I thought he pushed the gate open because he was so far ahead of the other horses. I had to watch the head-on replay – which they show right away – to make sure he didn't push it open on his own.

“He just did it with such ease. He got to the lead easily, Antonio wrapped him up a little bit and got him to relax. He rated so nicely and waited for the other horses to come to him and waited for Antonio to ask him and then he took off again.”

Back at the same distance and on the same ground, Bushido has trained forwardly leading up to his first shot at stakes glory.

“We're lucky to have him,” said Banach. “He's able to control everything. When you can get that quick jump on other horses, they have to play catch up and he's relaxed into stride. When it comes down to the last 100 yards and he needs that extra energy, he should have it, hopefully. He's a class act to be around. He's a colt, so he can be a little 'bitey' and playful, but once the rider is on and he's on the track, he's like an old pony. He loves to stop, look and relax. He doesn't use one ounce of energy more than he has to ahead of the race.”

Banach quickly took notice of Bushido's bravado once he stepped onto the racetrack.

“He walks to the track and you almost get this feeling of, 'Okay, everybody, stop what you're doing. I'm here now.' Antonio said he's just so confident in himself. He just oozes his own confidence. It's so nice to have a horse like that with such a great mind. Obviously, we spent a lot of time getting him to be like this, but he was able to do it, which is a testament to him.

The filly companion $150,000 Woodbine Cares Stakes has drawn seven starters.

For more about Woodbine Cares, Woodbine's corporate commitment to leveraging the power of horse racing to improve the quality of life in its communities, visit here: woodbine.com/corporate/woodbine-cares/

As part of Woodbine's Aftercare Day, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and LongRun Retirement Foundation will both have representatives onsite Saturday for an afternoon that includes Woodbine presenting $5,000 cheques to each charity in a winner's circle ceremony.

First post on Saturday is 1:20 p.m. Racing fans can watch and wager on the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

$750,000 E.P. TAYLOR STAKES (Race 9)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Munnyfor Ro – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

2 – Adventuring – Antonio Gallardo – Brad Cox

3 – Moira – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

4 – Rougir (FR) – Kazushi Kimura – Chad Brown

5 – Henrietta Topham – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Geoff Mulcahy

6 – Flirting Bridge (IRE) – David Moran – Brendan Walsh

7 – Lemista (IRE) – Luis Contreras – Chad Brown

8 – Mylady (GER) – Andrasch Starke – Markus Klug

9 – Fev Rover (IRE) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

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For the past two seasons, George Krikorian's War Like Goddess has displayed superiority amongst her staying female counterparts at graded stakes level on grass. In Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the talented bay mare will target a new task when facing males for the first time for Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

The 46th running of the 1 1/2-mile test for 3-year-olds and upward on the inner turf will see its first edition at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, N.Y., since 1983 when Daniel Wildenstein's Hall of Fame mare All Along notched her third Grade 1 win in the span of one calendar month en route to Horse of the Year honors. All Along was the most recent female to capture the Joe Hirsch – then known as the Turf Classic Invitational – but War Like Goddess will look to change that when facing three other Grade 1 winners.

War Like Goddess enjoyed a sensational 4-year-old campaign last year, including triumphs in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland, as well as Saratoga Race Course's Grade 2 Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational. She capped her year with a troubled third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, beaten only a half-length by the victorious Loves Only You.

A return winner of this year's Bewitch and Glens Falls, War Like Goddess enters Saturday's engagement from a troubled second in the Flower Bowl, where she chased a slow pace and came under urging in upper stretch once in the clear but came up a neck shy of victory to Virginia Joy.

A perfect 4-for-4 at 12 furlongs, her long-distance capabilities has made an ambitious spot like the Joe Hirsch a viable option, according to Mott.

“It's been an option we've had if the race seemed suitable for her. The distance and everything here is suitable,” said Mott, who saddled eventual turf champions Theatrical [1987] and Channel Maker [2018, 2020], as well as Shakespeare [2005] to Joe Hirsch scores. “She seems to be doing very well and I'm pleased with her.”

Mott said he is hopeful that War Like Goddess will not be hindered by slow fractions up front.

“You always hope that they don't go [the half-mile] in 53,” Mott said, with a laugh.

Jose Lezcano will pick up the mount aboard War Like Goddess from post 2.

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle a pair of runners, including Otter Bend Stables' Gufo, who finished third in last year's Joe Hirsch.

The 5-year-old Declaration of War chestnut has captured the last two editions of the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga, registering a co-field high 104 Beyer Speed Figure both times. Following this year's Sword Dancer, Gufo shipped to Kentucky Downs for the Grade 2 Calumet Turf Cup on September 10, finishing a late-closing second beaten a nose.

Gufo boasts the most accomplished resume in the Joe Hirsch field with field-best earnings of $2,169,030 and three Grade 1 victories. He captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in October 2020 during his 3-year-old season when ridden by returning rider Junior Alvarado.

“He's been training well,” Clement said. “The horse looks good. He ran a great race last time at Kentucky Downs and was unfortunate to be beaten only a nose. It's rewarding to be working with horses like him that can be competitive this long. Junior will ride him. He won a Grade 1 on him as a 3-year-old and he worked the horse [a half-mile in 49.42 seconds over the Belmont inner turf] on Friday.”

Gufo will break from post 7.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Michael J. Caruso and Wonder Stables' Soldier Rising will attempt to keep a highly consistent record afloat following a late-closing third in the Sword Dancer.

Arriving to Clement's barn last summer by way of France, the 4-year-old Frankel gelding has won twice at allowance optional claiming level this summer, traveling 1 3/8 miles over yielding Belmont inner turf in June before finishing a game second to Channel Maker in the Grand Couturier. He cut back to 1 3/16 miles for his following optional-claiming start on July 31 at Saratoga, which he won by a head over graded stakes placed Street Ready.

Soldier Rising was kept in Saratoga following the conclusion of the meet, where he has consistently breezed over the Oklahoma turf course.

“I kept him in Saratoga to train on the turf over there and he's doing very well,” Clement said. “He ran a good third last time. He can stay a mile and a half, and he seems to be able to handle any type of ground.”

Manny Franco will pick up the mount from post 6.

Trainer Chad Brown will look for a repeat triumph in the Joe Hirsch with last year's winner Rockemperor [post 5, Javier Castellano] as well as Grade 1 United Nations winner Adhamo [post 3, Dylan Davis], who enter from a respective ninth and eighth in the Sword Dancer Invitational.

A 6-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor, Rockemperor earned his first stakes win in North America in last year's Joe Hirsch, defeating next out graded stakes-winning stablemate Serve the King by two lengths. He captured the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 31 two starts back at Saratoga, defeating 2019 Joe Hirsch winner Arklow and fellow Brown-trained L'Imperator, who captured the Grade 3 Bernard Baruch in his following start. He is owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Michael J. Caruso Wonder Stables and Michael Kisber.

Adhamo, a 4-year-old son of Intello owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Michael J. Caruso and Louis Lazzinnaro, was a Group 3 winner in France before joining Brown's barn this year.

A late-closing second in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds in February in his stateside debut, Adhamo earned Grade 1 placings when a respective third and second in the Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Resorts World Casino Manhattan at Belmont Park. He broke through with a 1 1/2-length victory in the United Nations on July 23 at Monmouth Park.

Brown said neither of his horses appreciated the good going last out in the Sword Dancer.

“The turf just didn't suit them unfortunately, so I drew a line through it,” Brown said.

Completing the field are Alex G. Campbell Jr.'s two-time winning homebred Bye Bye Melvin [post 1, Feargal Lynch] for trainer Graham Motion and John O'Connor's homebred Astronaut [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche], who won last year's Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap and returns to the barn of Tom Albertrani.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic honors the late Daily Racing Form columnist and founding president of the National Turf Writers Association. Carded as Race 8 on Saturday's 11-race program, the Joe Hirsch makes up a blockbuster card which also features the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh – a “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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The legendary Stradivarius will be paraded in front of the crowds at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot next Saturday after his retirement was announced last week.

The parade will take place after the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (2pm next Saturday) and will give fans the opportunity to show their appreciation to the eight-year-old, who will stand at the National Stud from 2023.

Trained by John & Thady Gosden, Stradivarius had a remarkable career on the track that included winning the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at QIPCO British Champions Day in 2018. He retires with the most QIPCO British Champions Series wins in its history with 16 (next best Frankel with nine).

Anna Kerr, chief executive of the National Stud, said: “We are delighted to have a racehorse of the calibre of Stradivarius joining the roster at the National Stud. He has consistently demonstrated many of the attributes of his sire Sea The Stars – consistency, soundness and a phenomenal temperament. Parading at QIPCO British Champions Day provides the perfect opportunity for racing fans to say farewell to a true icon of our sport.”

Stradivarius' owner & breeder Bjorn Nielsen said: “He has been a joy to own. He turned up and ran his race every time with marvellous consistency. The last six years have been an absolute privilege and I particularly want to thank Ascot, Goodwood and York racecourses as well as everyone who has come out to support him during his career.

“He has been an absolute credit to the Gosden's and their staff at Clarehaven who managed to maintain his performance and enthusiasm for so long.”

Stradivarius won't be the only retired superstar racehorse on display at QIPCO British Champions Day, with spectators also having the chance to meet two Retraining of Racehorse all-stars in Side Glance and Trip To Paris.

Each now retired and enjoying a second career in showing and dressage, the two all-stars will be based throughout the day on the Motivator Lawn at Ascot – receiving visitors from the public. The trio will also parade in the paddock after the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes when their exploits on the track will be celebrated as we learn more about what they are doing now.

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